Based at a historic hotel
Please note: Walks are optional. If you have other interests, just let us know and we can change the day's plan for you.
Sunday
Meet your group at Turin airport or railway station. Leave for
Verduno or Barolo a one hour drive away. In Verduno you stay at a
stately, yet down to earth hotel, once the summer home of King Carlo
Alberto in the 1840s. In Barolo you stay at a pretty, three star,
family-run hotel in town with lovely views of Barolo castle and
vineyards.
Dine on authentic Piedmont specialties at a great local restaurant
drinking great local wines.
If you stay in Barolo, you'll visit the charming Brezza family in
their winery cellars, where the father or son sits with you around a
wooden table lit by candles and tastes their wines with you.
Conversation with them may stray to topics like family and friendship,
so when you see them again in their restaurant for dinner, they feel
like old pals.
Monday
Explore the La Morra area, driving along its winding country roads,
gazing in awe at the spectacular views of the Barolo wine
valley. Walk down through vineyards to the Ratti family winery.
Enjoy a personal tour and tasting in their wine museum in an abbey
dating back to 1162 with one of the winery’s
effervescent owners who tells you
what makes Barolos so exquisite and the rich history behind these
wines.
Drive to hill town Castiglione Falletto for light lunch alfresco on a
cafe patio with lovely hill views.
At Real Castello enjoy your early evening hands-on cooking lesson on
typical Piemonte dishes like onion tart, risotto with Barolo
and guinea hen with rosemary and bunet, a Piedmontese cocoa
pudding.
Before dinner, visit the Real Casello wine cellars where your host
tours you through the cellars and gives you tastings of the
acclaimed
wines including Pelaverga, that resembles a spicy Barolo and is made
only in Verduno.
As you savor your exquisite dishes in their frescoed dining room,
you’ll understand why the Real Castello restaurant is known
internationally for its fine cuisine.
Tuesday
Travel high up into lush hills covered in forests and nut trees. In
Cortemillia discover how to make hazelnut and chocolate desserts at a
delightful family's bakery, famous since 1964 for its hazelnut cakes,
pastries, cookies and more in a demonstration cooking class.
Drive down to a small, family farm to meet a man passionate about
making his sheep cheeses in a totally natural way. Learn how he makes
his cheeses in the cheese making room. In a divine picnic, you sample a
range of his cheeses as he eagerly tells you all you’d ever want to
know.
Drive to the scenic Barbaresco wine country hills and visit the
famous Marchesi di Gresy winery and taste a wide range of acclaimed red
and white wines including some of the best Barbarescos.
Dinner is in a typical restaurant full of local people in a little
town in the hills.
Wednesday
Visit the famous Marchesi di Barolo winery in Barolo, where today's
Barolo wine making began in the 1840s. See 200 year old barrels and
taste the best wines. If time, tour the 1000 year old castle in Barolo,
home to the Marchese di Barolo who refined Barolo wine in the 1840s.
Drive into the high hills to a farm where
Mario and his shepherds make sheep and goat cheeses in a place
with echoes of
ages gone by. Picnic of his cheeses and local specialties there.
Visit and taste some top Barolo wines with
one of the top producers like Conterno in Monforte.
Dinner is in a typical restaurant for more
delicate Piedmontese fare.
Thursday
Reluctant departure with our driver after breakfast today, either to Turin or Alba train stations or Turin airport.
2010 Tour Dates
Any time on request for two people or more - ask us for dates you like. If you’d like other people to join you, we’ll promote your dates and do our best to find you congenial companions. We can also custom design this tour for your interests.
Prices per person
For group of 6-8 people:
1255 Euros (approx $1630 Cdn, $1605 US). Single supplement: 205 Euros (approx $265 Cdn, $260 US).
For group of 4-5 people:
1425 Euros (approx $1855 Cdn, $1825 US). Single supplement: 205 Euros (approx $265 Cdn, $260 US).
For group of 2-3 people:
1670 Euros (approx $2170 Cdn, $2140 US). Single supplement: 205 Euros (approx $265 Cdn, $260 US).
Included:
- hotel with private bath and continental breakfast
- 2 cooking lessons
- all meals
- excursions listed in the itinerary
- private transport in minivan
- local guides
- private pick-up and drop-off at Turin's airport or train station
- 1/2 hour Italy trip planning consultation with Mama Margaret
Not included:
- wines with your meals so you can choose which wines you want to drink
Extend Your Italian Trip!
Contact us today about extending your Italian holiday at
margaret@italycookingschools.com
or 800-557-0370 within North America and
604-681-4074 in Vancouver, BC Canada or internationally.